Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
When Bastian had offered his help, I was excited by the advantage to beat Necrosis. But his revelation made me realize how sick this world really was. How everyone was just out for themselves.
I poured my third glass of wine and took a big drink.
Bastian watched me from across the table, one eyebrow slightly cocked.
“What?” I asked. “Never seen a woman drink before?”
“Never seen a woman drink like a man.” He pulled the bottle toward himself and refilled his glass.
Ian stared straight ahead, his plate still stacked with the meat he hadn’t touched. “This whole time, I thought Rutherford and Faron were the enemies. In actuality, it’s Necrosis. It’s always been Necrosis.”
“Necrosis didn’t make Faron conquer Delacroix and kill your father,” I said.
Bastian took a drink. “But they helped him do it.”
Ian and I both turned to look at him.
“What are you saying?” Ian asked.
I stared at Bastian, seeing a man who looked indistinguishable from other humans. “No one knows how Faron made it up the cliffs…”
“Now you know.” Bastian said it simply, like this age-old mystery was of no consequence.
Ian slouched back into his chair and ran his hand across his beard, his eyes defeated. “Curse the gods…”
“Why would Necrosis do that?” I asked. “Why would they forge an alliance with Plunderers?”
“Because they continue to sacrifice soul-rich people to Necrosis,” Bastian said. “Through the lottery. And Rutherford conceals the identity of the Three Kings and the elites. They walk among the citizens of the Capital, and no one has any idea what they really are. They feed on whomever they choose. It creates the perfect ecosystem.”
“So…” Ian’s eyes shifted back and forth across the table. “Necrosis has no interest in invading the Kingdoms.”
Bastian gave a quick shake of his head. “No. Not when the power dynamic works in their favor. They can get what they want without risking open war. If the citizens of the Kingdoms knew what really transpired right under their noses, they would take up their swords and fight. Necrosis doesn’t want that. They want everything to stay the same.”
“And the rest of Necrosis doesn’t care that only the Three Kings and the elites get the best souls?” I asked.
“They do,” Bastian said. “That’s why they aspire to become elites. It’s the perfect system. Keeps them obedient.”
I turned to Ian. “We have to warn Huntley.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” He brought his wine to his lips and took a drink. “But if that missive were intercepted…it would be catastrophic.”
“It would be more catastrophic if he didn’t know,” I said. “That he’s about to kick the hornet’s nest.”
“They don’t know that Queen Rolfe has taken the dragons,” Bastian said. “But once they do, HeartHolme will be vulnerable.”
Ian turned to me, accusation in his eyes.
“I didn’t tell him,” I snapped. “He’s been watching us a long time.”
Ian turned to Bastian. “You never answered the question.”
“And which question is that?” Bastian asked in a bored tone.
“Why Necrosis wants to wipe us out,” I said. “You said they know we’re a threat to the Kingdoms. But how do they know that?”
He relaxed back into the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Ivory.”
“What does she have to do with anything?” I asked.
“They know you took her. They know you have a path up the cliffs. They know you intend to take Delacroix for your own. They know it won’t stop there, and you’re prepared to challenge King Rutherford. And what happens after you take down King Rutherford? Your eyes will turn south—to the final enemy. You’ve made yourselves very dangerous.”
My heart sank into my chest because all of that was true. Huntley and Ivory were in Delacroix now, oblivious to the threat that lurked in the shadows. We were even more vulnerable without the dragons. Once Necrosis found out we were unprotected, they would come for us again.
And this time, we would die. “What happens when they know you’ve switched sides?”
“They’ll be even more threatened.”
“Will they be surprised by your betrayal?” I asked.
“Initially. But they’ll quickly realize it isn’t surprising at all.”
“Why is that?” I asked.
He looked away for a moment, like he didn’t want to answer my question.
“No secrets.”
“This secret has nothing to do with you or HeartHolme,” he said. “It’s mine—and I’m going to keep it.” When he looked at me, there was a viciousness to his gaze, as if he was prepared to go head-to-head with me.
I let it go.
Ian spoke. “It’s because they turned you against your will.”
My brother, perceptive as always.
Bastian gave no reaction, so it was hard to tell if that was the truth. “Once they know my allegiance has changed, I won’t be privy to their maneuvers. I think it’s best that I continue my position with Necrosis as long as I can—just for appearances. I didn’t suggest it before because I assumed you wouldn’t allow that. That requires a level of trust that I can’t earn in our short time frame.”